Somerset Council faces renewed calls to ramp up tree planting efforts following the removal of dozens of mature trees near the Edithmead roundabout in Highbridge. The clearance occurred as part of preparatory work ahead of a £6.4 million road improvement scheme designed to enhance journey times between the M5 motorway and Bristol Airport via the A38.
Local resident Graham Godwin-Pearson, former Conservative councillor for the Axevale ward, highlighted the issue during a recent council executive committee meeting in Taunton. He noted that National Highways, responsible for M5 maintenance, had removed approximately 40 mature trees at Edithmead without any visible efforts at succession planting.
Expressing concern over Somerset’s relatively low tree coverage, Godwin-Pearson questioned the council on how many hectares of trees had been planted since May 2023. In response, Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, portfolio holder for communities, environment, and climate change, detailed ongoing initiatives: 243 hectares of wood pasture and 16 hectares of woodland planted, alongside 750 urban trees, 89 school-led projects, and four kilometers of newly planted hedgerow as of January 2024.
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The Somerset Tree Strategy, launched in September 2023, aims for 13% tree coverage in the county by 2033, which requires planting roughly 240 hectares of new woodland annually. Currently, Somerset’s tree cover stands at about 8%, illustrating a significant gap to the target.
Council leader Bill Revans acknowledged the issue, referencing recent tree removals by National Highways and promising to raise the matter with the agency. He also invited residents to visit local environmental success stories such as Wilstock and Stockmoor Country Park in Bridgwater, areas that have benefited from restoration efforts.
Godwin-Pearson stressed that tree planting is critical not only for meeting environmental targets but also for addressing climate change, improving biodiversity, reducing flood risks, and enhancing natural landscapes. He urged the council to accelerate its tree planting commitments and ensure that new trees are planted in a timely manner before removing mature ones to protect wildlife habitats.
The discussion underscores the challenges Somerset faces in balancing infrastructure improvements with environmental preservation and highlights the community’s call for stronger action on sustainability initiatives.